Introduction

Rieko Otake fashions sculptures from camphor wood and leaves them unpainted.
“Yumemushi”, her series of works that is reminiscent of Buddhist statues, features girls with delicate features in various poses. “I’m interested in the obscure and abnormal, the things that are not normal” Otake said. Although they are based on human form, I endeavor to craft figures that will surpass individual personality and leave the permanence of humanity behind. Despite their delicate appearance, Otake’s works harbor a strength that sincerely reflects her passion for sculpture as a form of expression.

Concept

“Tori Tori” is a play on words; in Japanese, it evokes images of birds that have just taken flight and opens the door to Otake’s free world. With wings spread wide, the birds barely conceal the figures crouching on top. This exhibition is scheduled to include 6~7 works.

Artist Biography

Rieko Otake was born in 1978 in Kanagawa prefecture.
She graduated from the Sculpture Department of Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 2002 and received her Master’s in 2002. She recently completed her PhD in 2007.
Her accomplishments over the years have included the Sugawara Prize in 2002 and nomination for the The 9th Taro Okamoto Memorial Award for Contemporary Art in 2005. Her works, along with those by Motohiko Odani and Koji Tanada, among others, were exhibited at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music in 2007 at the exhibition “Sculpture from Stories.” This marks her first exhibition at Tomio Koyama Gallery.